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1. Which statement concerning the first appearance of the organisms over the time period represented in this chart
is most likely correct?
a. Life on Earth has remained the same
b. Life on Earth has changed from primitive organisms to more complex organisms
c. Life on Earth began with complex organisms
d. Life on Earth has changed rapidly
2. The Geologic Time Scale begins at the formation of Earth approximately ______________ years ago.
a. 4.6 thousand
c. 46 million
b. 4.6 million
d. 4.6 billion
3. While looking for fossils on an eroded hillside, you discover fossil coral and fossil fish in one layer. In a layer just
above, you find the fossil imprint of a fern frond and some fossil moss. Assuming the rock has not been
disturbed, which of the following is the most probable conclusion?
a. The area has been a sea until recent times.
b. A forest had once grown there but had become submerged by water.
c. A sea had been replaced by land in ancient times.
d. A saltwater sea had changed to a freshwater lake in ancient times.
4. The earliest evidence of life appeared _________________ years ago.
a. 3.5 billion
c. 350, 000
b. 3.5 million
d. 35,000
5. The earliest forms of life were similar to today’s _________________.
a. moss
c. worms
b. bacteria
d. algae
6. According to the fossil record, the first human ancestors appeared approximately _______________ years ago.
A) 6,000
B) 200,000
C) 2-4 million
D) 222 million
7. Complete the following table so that the amount of parent material (original radioisotope) and the amount of
daughter material (nonradioactive end product) are correct for the number of years that have passed.
50 g
25 g
12.5 g
6.25 g
50 g
75 g
87.5 g
93.75 g
8. Given the following chart, how much original material from the radioactive element is left after 2 billion years?
a. 100%
b. exactly 50%
c. less than 33%
d. over 75%
9. During a study, 4 undisrupted sedimentary rock layers were uncovered with a fossil in each layer. Layer A was
at the top, layer B was next, layer C was under B, and layer D was at the bottom. Based on this layer arrangement,
all of the following statements about the fossils are correct EXCEPT:
a.
b.
c.
d.
the fossil in layer B is younger than the fossil in layer C
the fossil in layer B is older than the fossil in layer A
the fossil in layer C is younger that the fossil in layer D
the fossil in layer A is the oldest
Layer A
Layer B
Layer C
Layer D
10. Which of these statements about the four rock layers is true?
a. There is no way to compare the ages of the fossils in these four layers.
b. The fish in layer B is older than the leaf in layer D.
c. The leaf in layer D is older than the fish in layer C.
d. All the fossils in these four rock layers are the same age.